Journey seems to have started a trend for 80's bands to replace their famous lead singers and get away with it. Next thing you know, Mick Jagger will be getting kicked to the curb and replaced with a younger YouTube soundalike.
Let's face it, the vocals go way before the fingers go. The guitarists, bassists, keyboard players, and drummers can keep on playing into their 70's, but the vocalists start to lose their edge at around 50. While there are some exceptions to the rule (Sammy Hagar, Sting, Paul Rodgers), for every one of them you have a David Lee Roth, Steve Perry, Brian Johnson, or Geddy Lee who are losing their voices. Some of these guys just keep on touring and raking in the cash even though their voices are trashed.
I'll be going to see AC/DC in January, and I don't know what to expect from Brian. Last time I heard him on a live recording he was sounding like he had been gargling with sand mixed with glass fragments. I think it would be cool if they recruited Jesse James Dupree of Jackyl to help him out with the lead vocals, because I imagine we will be hearing some croaking and cracking. But they will rake in the bucks anyway.
